Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by its breathtaking moments.

— Michael Vance

In shamanism, the belief that there is no death is a concept grounded in the belief of the soul existing in a never- ending process of regeneration. Our souls remember our ancient past, engage with our current environment, and know our future lives. We live forever, and our souls are immortal.

Understanding the Continuity of Life

Our existence, however, is marked by numerous transitions — both between our many lives and sometimes even within the frame of what we view as our current physical life. Emotionally and spiritually, one of our most dramatic transitions involves leaving this physical vessel that we currently occupy and passing to the next realm of our eternal existence.

For many people, this is understandably a traumatic moment and a transition that might be fraught with fear and anxiety, but the lessons of shamanism can provide a perspective that differs significantly from the traditional Western view of dying, which is characterized by the finality of an ending.